So, I’d been collecting links for this for a while now, and I’d originally planned to contrast the delightfully non-toxic masculinity of Gus Walz, Doug Emhoff, and Mayor Pete & his Chasten with the Republicans and this Theo Bro situation, but I never got around to it and now it is moot because we are well and truly fucked. But most of you know that, and if you don’t know that, well, clearly today you didn’t hear about the friend whose ob-gyn office is slammed with women scheduling hysterectomies or see the Texas college students marching around with “Women are Property” signs. Oh, to enjoy the bliss of ignorance.
But y’all don’t need me to bum you out! So, please allow me to acquaint you with a trend I’ve been enjoying on the internet lately: tremendously non-toxic men. There are quite a number of sweet, sensitive souls who are in touch with their feelings and spreading love and kindness, and don’t we all need more of that? These guys make me feel a little bit better about the world, in case you’d like to add them to your Instagram feed.
Mychal the Librarian @mychal3ts and Mr Billy the Librarian @3KingVisions are two men who are all about promoting libraries and nurturing the love of reading. Mychal in particular is like a cross between Mr. Rogers and Bob Ross in the absolute loveliest way.
Derrick is a guy who has made friends with squirrels, particularly one named Maxine, and you can follow him at @derrickdowneyjr.
Lee Asher from @theasherhouse runs an animal (mostly dog) sanctuary. His best posts are rescue days, when he acquires new dogs and falls deeply in love with each one. He walks around shirtless too much for my tastes, but if you are a dog lover, his pack walks are soothing.
Here’s a guy who pretends like he is your nice dad @officialyourprouddad. He is a delight. Apparently there are people who haven’t had a dad to tell them that that he’s proud, and he’s basically just trying to patch up their souls. There’s more Jesus than I need, but it’s still very sweet.
One of my friends is a huge Jason Reynolds fan girl. He’s a prolific children’s and YA author, and he was recently interviewed on the Daily Show. It makes me so happy that he’s popular with the young’uns because he is just so fantastically thoughtful.
And hey, how about those Kelce brothers? Jason, who is a super-proud girl dad who loves to be silly (is it still toxic to smash a phone out of a guy’s hand if that guy is being more toxic? hmmm…) and Travis, who is a tremendously supportive boyfriend to our girl Taylor.
There’s also US gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik, the 2021 world champion pommel horse specialist who spent most of the gymnastics rotations just meditating, then removed his glasses long enough to nail a routine that secured the team’s Olympic medal. Then, out of the gym, he gushes about his girlfriend and tries out Dancing with the Stars.
I’m sure that there are more, but that’s all I have the energy for tonight.
UPDATE: How did I forget Noah Kahan, with all his lovely sensitive vulnerable songs and raising craptons of money for mental health.
